The August 3 Newtown Farmers Market was a popular destination at the Fairfield Hills campus, although it may have been lost on many visitors that they were plucking freshly picked veggies and other locally sourced products on the second day of National Farmers Market Week.

Market managers Sean Fitzpatrick of Real Food Share and Sue Shortt of Shortt’s Farm and Garden Center were already busy helping customers just after the market opened that day. The market is open Tuesdays from 2 pm to 6 pm and runs through October.

Governor Ned Lamont announced that August 1 to 7 is National Farmers Market Week, while stressing the importance of purchasing locally grown products designated with the Connecticut Grown logo. With more than 90 certified farmers markets statewide, there is plenty of fresh, nutritious, and wholesome bounty for all to share — in many cases, as close to home as the Fairfield Hills Campus.

Fitzpatrick agreed, saying there is a farmers market in nearly every town across Connecticut, and shopping at farmers markets is the best way to support local farmers.

National Farmers Market Week is an annual celebration of farmers markets coordinated by the Farmers Market Coalition (FMC), a membership-based nonprofit organization that supports farmers markets nationwide through training, technical assistance, and network-building.

This year, the campaign is centered around the essential role that farmers markets play in local food systems and in developing local resilience in communities as hubs for connection.

“In the last year, farmers market operators have gone to Herculean lengths to keep their markets open and to protect their communities,” said Ben Feldman, FMC executive director.

Everyone who is able should get out and support a farmers market, Fitzpatrick said.

Some shoppers at the Newtown Farmers Market on August 3, like Lillian Martenson and Petrice DiVanno, celebrated the bounty of goods that can be found there weekly. Others, like Sherry Barry and her daughter Ava Barry, said they like shopping as many farmers markets in the area as they can.

More Vendors Added

As the summer has progressed, more vendors have been added to the Newtown Farmers Market. And a list of every certified farmers market in Connecticut can be found online at ctgrown.gov/farmersmarkets.

An interactive map of farmers markets is also available at ctgrown.org.

The Newtown Farmers Market is on the list.

Now in its 22nd year, National Farmers Market Week highlights the vital role that farmers markets play in the nation’s food system, the release shared. The COVID-19 pandemic made it clear that local food systems with short supply chains are resilient, and farmers markets keep communities connected while addressing food insecurity by offering programs for the most vulnerable residents to access fresh, nutritious, local foods.

“Our farmers markets in Connecticut provide for meaningful connections between the farmers who grow the food we eat and the communities who support them,” Gov Lamont said in the release. “Our state has a rich history of agriculture and farming, and these markets help keep the industry moving, creating jobs, and growing healthy produce for all of our residents to enjoy.”

“Growing up on a family-owned farm in Middletown, I know firsthand how important our locally-owned farms are to their communities,” Lt Governor Susan Bysiewicz said in the release. “Connecticut Grown products are the best in our country, and there is no better place to shop for them than at our state’s farmers markets. I encourage Connecticut residents to take advantage of our rich agricultural heritage and visit one of our amazing farmers markets, not just this week, but throughout the season.”

Double SNAP Benefits

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture administers the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), which helps residents over the age of 60 and women, infants, and children who meet certain eligibility guidelines to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, cut herbs, and honey, the release shared. Vouchers can be redeemed at certified farmers markets or farm stands throughout the state.

Many farmers markets also participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, with some offering doubled benefits. Nationwide, SNAP benefits redeemed at farmers markets increased by 50% over 2019. It is estimated that every dollar of nutrition incentives spent on farm-direct purchases results in a contribution of up to three dollars to the US economy. While farmers markets fuel local economies, they also provide one of the only low-barrier entry points for new farmers and food entrepreneurs. There are 3.5 times as many US farmers over the age of 65 as there are under 35. For young and beginning farmers, direct marketing through community supported agriculture (CSAs) and farmers markets make up the majority of their income.

“Farmers markets are essential to fostering a direct relationship between the farmer and the community they feed,” Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt said in the release. “They are crucial to ensure our next generation of farmers is able to grow and thrive while also creating a space that is safe, inviting, and accessible to all.”

For more information about the Newtown Farmers Market see its Instagram account, @newtown_ct_farmers_market; its Facebook page, Newtown Farmers Market; or its website, newtownctfarmersmarket.com.

Education reporter Eliza Hallabeck can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.